The police have raised alarms over a surge in incidents involving domestic workers stealing from their employers.
Speaking at an event where juveniles from Naguru Remand Home in Kampala were handing over 400 chickens they had reared as part of a rehabilitation program, Ms. Mary Kyomugisha, the facility’s probation and welfare officer, highlighted a concerning trend. She noted a rise in underage house helps being charged with theft of their employers’ property, often as a result of being victims of child trafficking from rural areas.
Ms. Kyomugisha emphasized the need to hold accountable those involved in trafficking children, advocating for second chances for these vulnerable youths.
Currently, the remand home accommodates nine girls and 176 boys facing charges related to theft and robbery.
In an interview, Mr. Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, revealed that investigations into theft and robbery cases involving domestic workers often uncover collusion with other individuals. He cautioned against hiring housemaids below the age of 18, warning that both the offenders and their employers would face legal consequences.
Instances of underage house helps being sexually abused in their employers’ homes have also been documented.
Ms. Joyce Odoki Sadori, president of the Rotary Club of Upper Kololo, highlighted the club’s efforts in providing support to the remand home, including initiating poultry rearing programs aimed at developing inmates’ skills. The club purchases the birds from the remand home, and proceeds are reinvested into facility improvements.
The club also sponsors other skill development programs, such as piggery and tailoring, benefitting a total of 400 inmates thus far.
Mr. Steven Mwanje, past Rotary District 9213 governor, commended the club’s initiatives, emphasizing the transformative potential of such programs.
